What should I do?

[Noel Mac]

I have a mark VI tenor 223xxx with nearly 100% original lacquer. It is a nice horn but it isn't as free blowing as I would like it. Also, I have to work really hard to get altissimo. I have looked through many fingerings books but nothing works. :cry: I have heard bad things about stripping the lacquer on the neck and I don't think I could strip all of that original lacquer. What should I do? And, I really like horns with less lacquer like my mark VI alto.

[Grumps]

Try a mouthpiece with a larger tip opening before you go stripping lacquer off. The only thing stripping lacquer off from your horn will do is lower its value. Altissimo is more a mind set than a finger set, but a larger tip opening for your mouthpiece might solve both of your problems.

[GHawk]

:D

[Andrew]

:D

[BobD]

I think there are trade offs when it comes to Mark VI's. I had a 182 that Les Arbuckle said was a killer horn. It had a very open upper register. I would ask my teacher what the fingering was for an altissmo note and it would pretty much pop right out on the first try. The trouble was, I hated the low end on that horn. So, I sold it and bought a 155 that had an easier low end. But, the high end was not as good as the 182. I can still play the altissmo but it's not as easy or open. If I were you I would try a bigger mouthpiece or stiffer reed. If that doesn't work sell or trade the horn in favor of one that plays more the way you like. What ever you do don't strip it. You could end up with a horn that doesn't play the way you want and is worth a fraction of what it was worth prior to the stripping.